The Difference With Decaf Tea

When we talk about ‘decaf,’ most likely coffee instantly comes to mind. Many people choose it as an alternative to regular coffee, believing it to be healthier and jitter reducing. But, did you know that decaf tea exists as well? Actually, recently, more individuals have made the switch from coffee to tea, because it seems even healthier than decaf coffee.

How does decaf tea stand up against decaf coffee? What makes decaf tea so different from regular tea? We’re here to give you some answers to these common questions, and clear up your confusion.

What is Decaf Tea?

Caffeine is naturally found in tea leaves. Almost all forms of tea—black, oolong, green, and white—can be decaffeinated. Still, black and green tea are the two main ones that are regularly decaffeinated. Even after the decaffeination process is completed, the tea leaves will still contain a small amount of caffeine. There are laws that dictate the exact level of caffeine that a tea must contain to be considered ‘decaf.’ A tea must have less than 2.5% of its original caffeine level.

Decaf Tea vs. Decaf Coffee

Neither decaf tea nor decaf coffee is completely caffeine free. Since coffee has significantly more caffeine content than tea has to begin with, the decaffeinated version will naturally still retain more caffeine than decaf tea. Decaf coffees contain between approximately 8.6 mg and 13.9 mg of caffeine, while decaf tea usually contains less than 2 mg of caffeine.

Decaf Tea vs. Regular Tea – Health

In terms of health benefits, research has been conducted on the effects of decaf vs. caffeinated tea, but there have not been any conclusive results. Some studies suggest that decaf teas have anti-cancer effects, and in some cases, decaf teas were richer in antioxidants, chemicals that assist in disease prevention, than regular teas. But, as the antioxidant content varies widely amongst different teas, it’s difficult to clearly gauge if there is a difference.

Both types of teas provide excellent health benefits, the key difference being the stimulating effects of caffeine. Teas of all types assist in cardiovascular disease prevention, can help prevent bone loss, may boost the immune system, and soothe the digestive system.

Our Decaf Tea

At CoffeeAM, we carry authentic gourmet tea that has been expertly decaffeinated through an intensive process. Even though the caffeine level is reduced, our decaf tea still retains its delicious flavor.

If you would like to try some of our most popular gourmet teas from around the world, please visit us today at CoffeeAM. What’s your personal preference? Do you like decaf or regular tea? Tell us which one and why in the comments section below, and we sincerely look forward to hearing from you. Be sure to check back for more insight into the coffee and tea industry.

Does Caffeine Affect Athletic Performance?

If you are an athlete, then you may be one of many who enjoy a little caffeine boost in the morning, or to pump you up during training or competitions. But recently, caffeine has come under scrutiny, and has become a hotly contested topic of discussion in sports. Major athletic organizations like the NCAA and the International Olympic Committee have even strongly considered banning caffeine as a performance-enhancing substance.

Caffeine is a chemical found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa beans, cola, and chocolate. With coffee being the second most widely consumed beverage only after water, caffeine is also naturally taken on a fairly regular basis worldwide. You’ve probably heard both positives and negatives about caffeine consumption, so what sort of impact, if any, does caffeine consumption have on overall athletic performance?

When Caffeine Enters the Body

To start off, what exactly happens when caffeine enters your body? Caffeine enters the bloodstream through the stomach and small intestine, and its effects can kick in as soon as 15 minutes after consumption. Once in the body, it takes about 6 hours for the caffeine to be eliminated. Blood pressure, heart rate, and stomach acid production all increase, fatty acids are released into the blood stream, and the amount of dopamine in the brain is increased, improving attention, memory, and endurance.

Caffeine and Performance

Much research has been conducted in this regard, and as we’ve said, caffeine’s role in sports/athletics is still a controversial topic. There are a few points that researchers seem to agree on—caffeine stimulates the brain allowing for better concentration, which makes it more useful in endurance activities than short-term activities. Since caffeine enables the body to use fat as its fuel source, a chemical stored in the muscles and liver called glycogen that acts as an additional fuel, can be conserved. In turn, athletes can exercise longer and harder delaying exhaustion, and keeping their energy going. After exercise, the muscle glycogen level increases, making recovery much faster and easier.

Surprisingly, a moderate dose of caffeine is enough to see some of those results, while a much higher dose actually won’t help your athletic endeavors. In fact, consuming an excessive amount of caffeine can cause jitteriness, anxiety, insomnia, headaches, dizziness, and gastrointestinal distress. Since each individual has different metabolism, diet, and caffeine consuming habits, everyone reacts to caffeine a little bit differently.

When it comes to consuming caffeine to give yourself an athletic boost, you should exercise caution. Know exactly how your body reacts to caffeine, don’t consume too much, consult a professional before you make your decision, and if you’re involved in a competition, be aware of the rules and regulations of particular athletic organizations so you are always using it within your limits.

If you are interested in trying gourmet coffee from around the world, both regular and decaf, then please visit us today at CoffeeAM!

 

 

Top Coffee Myths Busted

For years now, coffee has been one of the top most popular beverages in the world. While this is true, coffee consumers have heard conflicting facts about their favorite drink—it does wonders for your health, but does so at a poor cost. With all the studies and research happening in the coffee industry, it gets difficult and confusing to separate the fact from fiction.

Since we are on a mission to help you understand and appreciate all aspects of coffee, we thought this would be a good time to bust some of the most common myths surrounding coffee.

Myth 1: Coffee Causes Dehydration

While caffeinated beverages like coffee may have some diuretic effect, meaning they can make you want to urinate, it has not been proven that coffee increases the risk of dehydration. It’s certainly not as hydrating as plain water, but a cup of coffee won’t hurt.

 

Myth 2: Decaf Won’t Give You a Buzz

Decaffeinated coffee means that almost all of the caffeine from the coffee beans has been removed. Since the caffeine is not completely eliminated, it doesn’t actually mean that it’s completely free of caffeine. Studies have even found that drinking five cups of decaf coffee, can have the same amount of caffeine as one or two cups of caffeinated coffee.

 

Myth 3: Coffee Helps You Lose Weight

Caffeine is an active ingredient in many weight-loss products and it does temporarily suppress your appetite, but drinking a cup or two every day does not have the dramatic effects that you may expect, And, drinking several cups a day may cause problems like increased heart rate and blood pressure. Coffee isn’t the fast weight-loss fix, and can’t nip obesity in the bud, especially if you take your coffee with cream and sugar.

 

Myth 4: Coffee Cures Hangovers

No matter how magical that sounds, it’s far from the truth. Coffee does not suppress or slow the effects of alcohol. Coffee simply boosts your energy, which gives you the false impression of sobriety, but you may very well still be under the influence. Contrary to common belief, the combination of caffeine and alcohol can actually be potentially toxic in your system.

 

Myth 5: Coffee Makes You Stay Awake at Night

If you’re a regular coffee drinker, you’ve surely heard this more than a few times. Coffee actually only stays in your body for about six hours at the most, so what you drink by afternoon will have little if any effect on your sleep. If you do drink your coffee late into the night, then it will, in fact, make you stay awake longer. Also, people who have sleep problems process caffeine at a slower rate, so for those drinkers, it’s best to consume coffee only in the morning.

Have you heard any coffee myths that need busting, or do you have unanswered coffee questions? Share them with us here, and we would be happy to help you! For all of your coffee and tea needs, please be sure to visit us at CoffeeAM!

One More Reason to Love Coffee

We’re back to bring you the latest news in coffee research. You’ve seen how study after study has shown the myriad of benefits of drinking coffee on a daily basis. Well, new research conducted at National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland has brought to light yet another, even more astonishing effect of coffee consumption—lowering the risk of death.

Yes—you read that right. For this 10-year study, researchers utilized data from a previous study on 90,317 adults, who had no cancer or history of cardiovascular disease. These subjects were followed from 1998 through 2009, and they recorded their coffee intake, along with other dietary details. By 2009, approximately 8,700 of those test subjects had died.

Based on the habits of those studied, the researchers found that coffee drinkers were less likely to have died during the study than those who didn’t drink coffee. In fact, the risk of death was lowest for those who drank four to five cups of coffee per day. Even those who drank decaffeinated coffee faired better. In addition, those who consumed two to three cups of coffee per day had about an 18 percent lower risk of death compared to those who reported drinking no coffee at all.

The researchers also found that coffee drinkers had a reduced risk of death from heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, pneumonia, influenza, and even suicide.

That being said, coffee is not a cure-all by any means. These results do not prove that coffee extends life. Rather, a moderate amount of coffee consumption can be incorporated into a healthy, balanced lifestyle. So, you don’t need to feel guilty about indulging in a cup or two of freshly brewed coffee every day, as long as you also practice healthy habits, such as exercising and maintaining a balanced diet.

Whenever there is something new and exciting happening in the coffee world, we will surely share it with you here. Make every day a little bit better with freshly roasted gourmet coffees from all over the world, including organic and decaf blends. Discover flavorful favorites as well as unique gift ideas perfect for any occasion today at CoffeeAM.

Do you need any more reasons to love coffee? Then, stay tuned for the latest coffee research, brewing tips and tricks, DIY projects, creative recipes, and so much more. Now, we want your input! What is it that makes you reach for that fresh, sweet-smelling pot of coffee each day? Please share your thoughts in the comments section, and be sure to treat your taste buds to an unparalleled coffee experience from CoffeeAM!